进退两难

jìn tuì liǎng nán

in a dilemma; caught between two bad choices

Character by character

进jìn
advance

退tuì
retreat

两liǎng
both

难nán
hard

辞职吧，怕找不到工作；不辞吧，又实在干不下去，他真是进退两难。

If he quits, he fears he will not find work; if he stays, he really cannot go on. He is caught either way.

Tone: neutral.

Often 陷入进退两难的境地. The bookish twin is 进退维谷.

Learn this in Lesson 63 · HSK 6: 考公热 (The rush for government jobs)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.